Nightly News Full Broadcast - March 9

tonight that reported an apology from a Mexican drug cartel for kidnapping those four Americans the handwritten letter is said to be from a powerful cartel saying they have handed over those responsible for the kidnapping that left two of those Americans dead on man who allegedly tied him up and left out what we're also learning tonight: Norfolk Southern CEO on the stand telling the Senate he deeply regrets the toxic train derailment in Ohio while testifying that the company was responding to another derailment this time in Alabama after two storms. a powerful new system hits California after record snowfall another storm moving across the country will time everything just interrupted the deadly mass shooting at a church in Germany reports of several people dead new video suspected Hypersonic missiles drinking a power plant in Kiev the deadly new bombing in Ukraine our team on the ground Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell hospitalized with a concussion after a fall, his condition just under a week after he was found guilty, Alec Murdoch appealed his double murder conviction and the FDA's major change for mammograms.

He helped more women detect breast cancer earlier. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and thank you for joining us. A surprising apology for the kidnapping and murder of Americans on a visit to Mexico provides a rare glimpse into the thinking of a notorious criminal organization. The apology comes in a letter purportedly coming from the golf cartel in which it appears to be unaware of a direct role in the attack that left two Americans and a Mexican citizen dead, blaming mistakes caused by the undisciplined and suggesting that the violent acts were Made by those working alone act against the rules of the charter, which, according to a senior law enforcement official, U.S. authorities believe is legitimate.

The group strongly condemns the kidnappings and murders. The letter obtained by the Associated Press included a photo of tied men and warned that the guilty will pay Morgan Chesky has more The stunning photos show five men lying on the pavement each with their hands tied and all but one shirtless with a written letter hand claiming to be from the Mexico golf cartel taped to the windshield like our scene tonight a senior A law enforcement official tells NBC News it appears to be an apology from the cartel following the kidnapping that left two Americans dead. The shocking, almost unprecedented admission.

Have you seen a virtual reality situation like this? No, no, no, they made a big mistake. They killed two Americans and uh, they know that the Mexican government is coming after them, they know that we are going to come after them too. The letter obtained by the Associated Press from a Mexican official includes apologies to the people of Matamoros, the Mexican woman who was murdered and the families of the Americans. It reads in part that the Gulf Cartel's Scorpion group strongly condemns the events of Friday, March 3. For this reason we have decided to hand over those involved, adding that the men acted under their own determination and indiscipline and against the rules by which the cartel is governed.

The Mexican authorities have not confirmed if the men are in custody or if they are really responsible. . Meanwhile, in Texas, officials are working to bring two slain Americans back home. Survivor Eric James Williams is recovering. His wife shares that doctors put metal bars in his leg. wounded under the hail of gunfire tonight the cartel ends its letter asking society to remain calm the closure with the culprits will pay regardless of who they are Morgan, what more can you tell us about the condition and status of the American victims? Lester, we know. The process to repatriate or recover those two Americans has been underway for several days and just in the last few minutes our crew witnessed this solemn procession of multiple vehicles crossing this international bridge from Mexico back to US soil carrying those two Americans which, we were told, We are heading to a local funeral home and future arrangements are expected Lester, okay Morgan Chesky, thanks for the

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today about another Norfolk Southern train derailment just as the company's CEO appeared before Congress apologizing for the toxic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. and facing grilling from lawmakers, here's Tom Costello.

I want to start today by expressing how much I regret that I expect a bipartisan questioning. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw began with an apology and a promise that we'll be there for the duration. what is needed to help East Palestine prosper and recover, that is my personal commitment, but when senators asked for specific commitments to cover residents' medical expenses from exposure to toxins and loss of property value, the executive railroad was vague: will you commit to paying for long-term medical testing for people in affected communities Senator, I am committed to doing the right thing, will you commit to compensating beneficial owners for the decline in their property values?

Senator, I am committed to doing the right thing. Well, what is correct is a family that had a house worth a hundred thousand dollars. That's now worth fifty thousand dollars. We'll probably never be able to sell that house for a hundred thousand again. Will you compensate that family for that loss? Senator, I'm here to do the right thing, that's the right thing, Shaw said. The company has already pledged $21 million to help the area by insisting it runs a safe railroad, but while talking about another Norfolk Southern derailment, 30 cars early this morning in Alabama there were no injuries or hazardous materials spills during the end of week, a Norfolk Southern train derailed. in Springfield Ohio again no injuries also Under fire for its response the EPA why did it take weeks for the EPA administrator to drink the water he repeatedly told residents was safe?

EPA reported today that air and water samples from East Palestine continue to analyze the Norfolk cleanup. Southern has had 20 hazardous materials spills in eight years, the rail industry averages one a month today. Ohio Republican JD Vance took aim at members of his own party who oppose new rail safety regulations. We have a choice: Are we for big business and big government, or are we for the people of East Palestine? Shaw says he would support parts of the new regulations, but not all of Norfolk Southern has safe rail, and that's my commitment to improve that security. Todd Norfolk Southern is already facing some lawsuits - yes, that's right, 18 so far and the EPA is also insisting that it will hold the company accountable if it doesn't completely clean up Eastern Palestine.

The EPA threatens to force her to pay triple the costs of the cleanup. Lester, it's okay, Tom Costello, tonight, thanks to none of the more than 66 million Americans affected by the weather. alerts tonight facing threats of two major storms Dylan Dreyer is following you Dylan what is the last well Lester this is a serious situation in California the heavy rains are reaching central California now they will last until tomorrow and we expect a lot of rain a stop is possible flash flood risk, they are extremely rare and when issued, they account for a significant number of flood deaths, so this is a very, very serious situation, there is a lot of snow cover at higher elevations.

About six to eight inches of rain will fall on top of that snow which could lead to avalanches and mudslides, and also continue the regular flooding that is associated with six to eight to ten inches of rain. We are also keeping an eye on the storm system. As it moves through the Great Lakes, this will produce some snow in the northeast. We could end up with widespread snow, I'd say four inches of snow, but some areas could get closer to about six last time. Very good, Dylan Dreyer, thank you. is breaking

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in Germany, where police say a shooting inside a church left several people dead and others injured.

Authorities say it happened at a Jehovah's Witness Hall in Hamburg, Germany's second-largest city, and it was a deadly day in Ukraine as Russia launched an intense new wave of missile attacks across the country. calls for revenge attacks Aaron McLaughlin is there Ukraine's capital woke up this morning to what they suspect was a rarely used hypersonic missile that hit a power plant in the heart of kyiv one of a barrage of missile attacks across the country that temporarily removed from power and killed at least six according to officials Ukraine's president Zielinski called it an act of terrorism The Kremlin called it an act of revenge for a raid that killed a Russian civilian last week Ukraine denies any involvement today At least five died in the western region of Leviv after a missile fell on a residential area and to the south, in Zaparisia, a missile damaged the main power line of Europe's largest nuclear power plant, temporarily forcing the use of generators. emergency for the sixth time since then. restored if we allow this to continue again and again then one day our luck will run out the missiles will also attack the energy infrastructure in central Ukraine tonight in Dinipro the power has already returned this was the 15th large scale attack against the energy infrastructure of Ukraine and the Russians have very little to show Russian forces also have little to show after their months-long assault on the city of Bakmut where they have deployed and lost thousands of men tonight the CIA director warns that the Russian president is playing the Long Game waiting for the West to lose interest as Ukrainians vow to defend their land no matter what Lester Aaron McLaughlin thanks back home tonight Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized after stumbling and suffer a concussion Ryan Nobles is in the Capitol Ryan, what else can we do?

Learn less In just the last hour, President Joe Biden said he spoke with Mitch McConnell's family and that he hopes the Senate leader recovers. McConnell suffered a concussion from a fall after an event he was hosting for the Senate. leadership fund which is a pact that supports Senate Republicans McConnell's aide said he expected to be hospitalized for at least the next few days McConnell is 81 has had his share of health scares underwent heart surgery in 2003 and also suffered a broken shoulder after a setback in 2019. Now, the length of his absence will likely determine how big of an impact he will have in the US Senate.

McConnell is expected to be a key negotiator and these legislative showdowns over the budget and, of course, the debt ceiling. At this point, Lester and his assistants are not setting a timeline for when he might return. Lester, it's okay, Ryan Nobles, thank you. There's another budget headline tonight as President Biden unveiled his $6.8 trillion proposal. Kristen Welker now and the president's event plan and the Republican reaction on Battlefield President Biden of Pennsylvania presents his sweeping budget proposal, proposing big tax increases for the wealthy and more spending. My boys are going to give work and people a fighting chance.

He will create good paying jobs even with a divided government. That plan is dead. It arrives with Republicans firmly opposed to any new tax increases, but Biden's proposal is likely a template for his battle plan against Republicans in his expected 2024 re-election bid. All top Republicans voted to get rid of the law. of Affordable Care and voted to get rid of it. More than 50 times since Barack signed it, the $6.8 trillion plan calls for protecting Social Security and shoring up Medicare by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, including increasing penalties on oil and gas companies that imposing multi-billion dollar attacks of 25 percent and raising the 25 percent corporate tax rate. 21-28 and includes record spending on the military and increased funding for social programs such as early childhood education and child care, but Republicans criticize it as a reckless tax-and-spend plan.

What is this budget for? Raising more taxes spends more money creates probably the largest government we've seen in American history the president's plan is also an attempt to revive his position in our latest NBC News poll only 36 percent say they approve of his management of the economy and only 32 percent say they are excited orcomfortable with him running for office again, as for that looming showdown over the debt ceiling, the president said he will meet with President McCarthy once Republicans release their budget Lester Kristen Walker at the White House thanks a week After he was convicted of murdering his wife and son Alec Murdoch's lawyers today filed a notice to appeal his convictions Murdoch was sentenced to two life sentences and maintains his innocence in 60 seconds FDA change that could save lives and it could help women find out if they are at higher risk for breast cancer now with a major health update new FDA standards that could save lives by helping women know if they are at higher risk for breast cancer mom here's Kristen Dahlgren, when Joanne Pushkin was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, she wondered why her annual mammograms never caught it the letter I received after my mammogram simply said normal negative no evidence of cancer there was not a word about breast density almost half of women have what are considered dense breasts with a high content of fibrous and glandular tissue that appear white on the mammogram cancer that also appears white is more difficult to detect here is a spot of cancer on the mammogram of a fatty breast this is what a dense breast looks like trying to find a snowball in a blizzard is easily overlooked and overlooked how many women have been falling through the carax dense breasts too are associated with a four-fold increased risk of developing breast cancer, which is why today the FDA is requiring a new nationwide standard for notifying women about their breast density.

Women with dense breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer. The FDA actually ensures that people receive this information in standard language. Breastfeeders are encouraged to talk to their doctors and ask if they need additional tests such as an ultrasound or MRI. The FDA standards won't go into effect until 2024. Meanwhile, only 15 states currently require insurance to pay for all or part of the additional exams, so Congress will soon reconsider the early search law to ensure that all plans insurance cover mammograms and additional screenings when we find the answer matters cancer is found at an early stage we have a 99 five year survival rate tonight we hope women are one step closer to finding breast cancer mama before it's too late Christian Dahlgren NBC News and what's next for us a push to help diagnose children with eating disorders a family's journey and what parents need to know now for our series kids under pressure and a problem which often doesn't get the attention it needs deserves children and eating disorders About one in three people diagnosed with an eating disorder is male, but experts say the number is probably much higher.

Here are the Savannah sellers who are only 17 years old. Ryan has been struggling with his body image for almost a decade. In sixth grade, Ryan started skipping snacks and desserts, joined the wrestling team, and over the next two years he began to restrict himself even more, having to cut a lot of weight to get to lower weight classes. The eighth grade meal consumed his thoughts. He was thinking about eating every day at every meal, whether like Gill or, you know, dreading a meal, the change in Ryan's physical appearance was dramatic, this is a first year, you're Much thinner, yes, still, it took years for Ryan to seek medical treatment for his eating disorder.

I thought it was just a girl thing. When did you think? Well, maybe it can be applied to children too. It wouldn't be until I started treatment. Even doctors had a hard time identifying male patients in part because they have no roadmap for doing so. 99 of the research so far has focused on women. Dr. Jason negata is an eating disorder specialist at UCSF who pushes guidelines focused specifically on boys and men. He says that no eating disorder affects boys trying to gain muscle mass and even In 2020, to be diagnosed with anorexia, a person had to miss at least three periods, especially with athletes, they are doing exactly the same things that girls do that you know with eating disorders to try to overcome these weight limits, but it is considered normal because everyone the team is doing it Ryan's mom, Carrie, never saw this coming.

I really thought, oh I'm going to have to deal with this with my daughter, she and it ended up being Ryan, it was very surprising, you were scared, yeah, oh yeah, very scared. I was trying to go online, go to the library, get books about kids with eating disorders and there was nothing, after an extensive search Kerry found Newport Healthcare where Ryan completed a 60 day inpatient program last year. I still struggle with those thoughts daily, but I have so many coping skills now that I have learned through treatment. He also has a message for other children.

When you're a boy, you want to be really masculine and you don't want to show any weakness, but what really makes you strong is realizing it. your own weaknesses and fight them Savannah salesmen we'll take a break and then we'll come save kids from gun violence one man's mission to reach them at a young age finally a potentially life-saving lesson for Hema Alice about a new way to teach children the dangers of gun violence for William Electric Black is an urgent message that must be taught to save children, children are dying, children of color and you know it breaks my heart, really its approach when teaching children as young as four about the dangers of guns incorporating nursery rhymes mimes and puppets it's enough to have a message or you need a movement we need a movement there are more guns out there than people and the former Sesame Street writer winner Emmy award-winning electric knows the power of the rhyme oh God it is Not recently at a public school in East Harlem modeling the program he hopes to bring to all New York City schools, is there also an opportunity to involve parents in this, in addition to working with their children, singing with their children, yes, reading with their children, and that's how it works?

Isn't it like that who doesn't know Itsy Bitsy Spider oh King what do people change? Guns are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. Last year, more than 6,000 people were killed or injured by gun violence. teeth in the characters, why did you do that? Ah, threatening, it's bad, dangerous and I never let kids come up and say oh oh, let me touch it, let me hold it, you're not part of it, no, some people may say you're starting too young this is too serious it's too violent is too painful what do you say?

It's age appropriate if a child really realizes that a gun can do this and you should try calling 9-1-1 that's a great life lesson that starts with the smallest of us oh rahima Ellis NBC News New York, that's Nightly News for this Thursday thanks for watching everyone. I'm Lester Holt, please take care of yourselves and each other. Good evening, we are going to stop it because you are we are going to spread thanks for watching our YouTube channel. Follow today's top stories and breaking news by downloading the NBC News app.